follow

verb

ˈfä-(ˌ)lō How to pronounce follow (audio)
Definition of follownext
1
as in to succeed
to come after in time a wrap-up always follows the Super Bowl broadcast

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pursue
to go after or on the track of let's follow the boys to their hiding place

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to obey
to act according to the commands of follow me, and you'll do OK

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to traverse
to make one's way through, across, or over followed the path into the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to note
to take notice of and be guided by don't follow his advice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to observe
to keep one's eyes on stood on the platform and followed the departing train until it disappeared from sight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word follow different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of follow are ensue, succeed, and supervene. While all these words mean "to come after something or someone," follow may apply to a coming after in time, position, or logical sequence.

speeches followed the dinner

When is it sensible to use ensue instead of follow?

While the synonyms ensue and follow are close in meaning, ensue commonly suggests a logical consequence or naturally expected development.

after the talk a general discussion ensued

When is succeed a more appropriate choice than follow?

Although the words succeed and follow have much in common, succeed implies a coming after immediately in a sequence determined by natural order, inheritance, election, or laws of rank.

she succeeded her father as head of the business

When can supervene be used instead of follow?

The words supervene and follow can be used in similar contexts, but supervene suggests the following or beginning of something unforeseen or unpredictable.

unable to continue because of supervening circumstances

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of follow The same suspect led Lincoln police on a vehicle pursuit a few weeks ago throughout Lincoln before being taken into custody following a foot pursuit, according to the social media post. — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Eric Ramsdell—a Walmart tank trunk driver who took first place in his division—said the championship reflects a responsibility that follows drivers on the road. — Alice Barlow, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 Hunter Wendelstedt leads the league, followed by Dan Iassogna, Malachi Moore, Lance Barrett and Manny Gonzalez. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Nepal may need $4 billion to $5 billion to rebuild following the disaster, the country’s Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle told Reuters on Saturday. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for follow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for follow
  1. succeed
  2. pursue
  3. obey
  4. traverse
  5. note
  6. observe
  7. replace
  8. chase
Verb
  • Four years after succeeding founder Virgil Abloh as the creative lead at Off-White, Ib Kamara has departed the brand.
    — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Republicans are trying to tie the Democratic Party in general to the democratic socialist candidates who have succeeded this year in running for office.
    — Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of succeed
Verb
  • In his view, that includes a public education fund, though there are dozens of states along with cities, counties and school districts that will all be pursuing various remedies.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
  • That lack of investment in domestic infrastructure has in turn helped enable governments led by Carney and his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, to pursue their virtue signaling net-zero by 2050 goals.
    — David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of pursue
Verb
  • Another Portage Police officer also filed a resisting law enforcement charge because Hilliard failed to obey his commands to stop.
    — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
  • People are riding e-bikes and e-motorcycles, sometimes riding recklessly, traveling at high speeds, or not obeying the rules of the road.
    — Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of obey
Verb
  • And while Jonas is no stranger to traversing the nation, often on a tour bus, he may not have been accustomed to the way it was done on the commercial’s set.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The ride reaches speeds of 72 mph, the fastest coaster in Universal’s global portfolio, while traversing 4,100 feet of track, two towering inverted loops and a pretzel loop.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of traverse
Verb
  • Andrew Brown, Park Forest’s assistant director of economic development and planning, notes that any applicant had to fall in the 60% income bracket of the six-county area of Chicago.
    — Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In line with that argument, reporting on California’s latest lawsuit underscores how central mail-in ballots have become, noting that more than 89% of voters used mail ballots in the state’s June primary.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of note
Verb
  • Psychologist Katie Witkiewitz observed in an APA Speaking of Psychology interview that people are increasingly choosing not to drink as a group, and that the communal nature of that choice carries real weight.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Over the course of its five-year mission, the Roman telescope will capture images of the Milky Way, survey the entire sky and observe supernova explosions that occurred as far as 8 billion years ago.
    — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of observe
Verb
  • Other goals, like a lactation room, upgrading the fire alarm system to a voice evacuation system for the whole building and replacing the elevator came later.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Despite the digital shift, leading retailers are leveraging AI to enhance human customer connections, not replace them.
    — John Hall, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of replace
Verb
  • The North American box office is still chasing the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, and despite a blockbuster summer, ticket sales are still lagging.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That’s some serious currency for Mahomes to be taking into Season 10 with so much still in front of him — both in terms of years to play, presumably, and goals to chase.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of chase

Phrases Containing follow

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follow
followed
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Cite this Entry

“Follow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/follow. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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